Mayor: Freehold will seek county seat compensation

Staff Writer

By clare M. masi

Mayor: Freehold will seek
county seat compensation

FREEHOLD — Mayor Michael Wilson spoke to a packed audience of residents and former municipal officials at the borough’s 2002 reorganization meeting Sunday.

The mayor spoke to the audience with confidence, honesty and hopeful enthusiasm for the future of the town, remembrance of the events which gripped the nation on Sept. 11. and finally a touch of humor, remarking that he hadn’t seen so many people attend a town meeting since officials raised taxes.

The reorganization featured the swearing into office of Borough Council members Kevin Coyne and Kevin Kane for three-year terms.

The mayor then spoke of the year gone by.

"We witnessed the commencement of the construction of the Millennium assisted living facility along Manalapan Avenue, the completion and habitation of the Rug Mill facility, the reconstruction of Liberty Park along with the KaBoom playground, and the reconstruction of various streets within the borough," Wilson said.

The mayor also referred to the installation of new playground equipment in Veterans Park and the construction of a new garage to house the borough’s firefighting apparatus.

Wilson congratulated the borough’s volunteer firefighters and police officers who offered their services to the relief effort at the World Trade Center.

"Their bravery and valor are a testament of their dedication and commitment to making the borough one of the finest communities in which to live. Clearly, the Freehold Borough fire and police departments are a living ‘profile in courage,’ " said the mayor, who is beginning his 17th full year in office.

Wilson made a point to note the formation of the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee, which he referred to as a milestone of the year 2001.

"This group, which represents the rich diversity within the borough, will tirelessly strive to enhance the relations of its people as a whole. The committee will be guided competently and compassionately by Borough Historian and Councilman, Kevin Coyne," explained the mayor.

Wilson told residents that officials will be "embarking on a long-term major housing rehabilitation program which will provide a $3.4 million investment into the housing stock of the borough." He said the funding source of the program is a direct result of a Regional Contribution Agreement with Freehold Township. Wilson said borough homeowners will be able to make improvements to their homes at little or no cost to them.

The mayor said that shortly after Governor-elect James McGreevey takes his oath of office he intends to petition the governor for help in fostering legislation that will provide payments in lieu of taxes to municipalities which are county seats.

Freehold Borough is the county seat of Monmouth County.

"As you can imagine," Wilson said, "Freehold Borough loses much in the way of tax ratables because it is host to so many government buildings. I ask that the state legislative delegation representing the borough champion this cause for our taxpayers."

Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer thanked the employees and professionals of the borough for doing "exemplary jobs in a very trying year."

"Our fire department, members of our first aid squad and each volunteer who serves on a committee or commission for us are to be commended for outstanding service and commitment without which we could not proceed," she said.

Shutzer thanked the police department, under the direction of Chief Michael Beierschmitt, her fellow council members and Wilson for their hard work to make the right decisions for "our beloved town."

Robert Crawford, council president for 2001, told the audience the council members will continue to need their comments, criticism and advice and he encouraged them to keep attending town meetings.

Crawford referred to the events of Sept. 11 and said that in retrospect, "It had a profound effect on everyone. We are a nation at war. Be good to each other and be good for each other."

Councilman Michael Toubin expressed his thanks for the ability to serve the town for another year.

"It’s very important for us to all get along with one another," he said. "We are a very diverse community in a very diverse world."

Toubin also called for volunteers to give even a small piece of their time to serve their town.

"One night a week, one night a month, even one night a quarter," Toubin said. "I’ll take anything you offer. It just tells us you care as everyone up here does."

Toubin said he was "very proud to be a part of Mike Wilson’s team again with Mike being at the helm of our town."

Council members elected Councilman Michael DiBenedetto to serve as council president for 2002. DiBenedetto is beginning his sixth year on the council.

One of the projects he said he strongly supports is the mayor’s "quest" to compensate county seats throughout the state based on the fact that these towns are losing money through the loss of the land occupied by county buildings.

"Although it is an honor and privilege bestowed upon our town to be the county seat and although that honor does bring many people who patronize our restaurants and shops, we still don’t receive the money we should be receiving," DiBenedetto said.

"As liaison to the recreation commission I am looking forward to working with a great group of volunteers who will be trying to make the town better. Our recreation department gets stronger every year and our parks are occupied with more children every year," he added.

DiBenedetto noted that playground equipment has been upgraded and said the parks themselves are much improved through the leadership of Bobby Holmes, who heads up the town’s road department.

"We will also be working as a group with the code department to do something about the problem of absentee landlords in our town. The puzzle will come together as our different groups come together to work on this problem. The events caused by absentee landlords are not only affecting the areas the problems are in, but will affect all our schools heavily with the increased population of children," he said.